Fig. 7: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) visibility windows to observe 1998 KY26. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) visibility windows to observe 1998 KY26.

From: Hayabusa2 extended mission target asteroid 1998 KY26 is smaller and rotating faster than previously known

Fig. 7: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) visibility windows to observe 1998 KY26.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Flux predictions (in μJy) for 1998 KY26 for possible future JWST-MIRI (JWST's mid-infrared imager) observations. Top: Fast rotating model (FRM) fluxes for the specific MIRI bands for the years 2027 to 2029, JWST visibility windows are indicated by the thick blue and red lines. Bottom: Thermophysical model (TPM) flux predictions for two different sizes, 30 m and 11 m, assuming the SAGE#1 spin properties, for a wide range of thermal inertias, and for two epochs (left: 2028-Mar-28, right: 2028-Oct-01). The MIRI S/N = 10 sensitivity limits for 30 min integration per filter (assuming a medium sky background) are shown as solid black lines. JWST-MIRI measurements would allow to settle the size question and to constrain the object’s thermal properties well before the Hayabusa2# arrival in 2031.

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